There is a lot that goes into lubricant formulation. It’s a complex process that requires years of expertise. The base oils and additives that comprise each product are carefully balanced to provide excellent performance in specified applications.
TestOil Field/Data Analyst Matt McMahon explains, “People occasionally try to compensate for depleted additives by adding aftermarket products into existing oil. A common one that we see during analysis is a lead containing additive. We usually see this added to EP gear oils. While we are familiar with most commercial oils, unless the person that collects and sends in the sample lets us know about the new additive we would treat this higher than normal amount of lead as a machine wear issue since it is typically classified as a wear metal.”
Introducing aftermarket additives does require expertise, experience and thorough testing of the mixed lubricant. Some additives actually compete with each other. For example, if an anti-wear additive is mixed in, it can reduce the effectiveness of the corrosion inhibitor—leading to unexpected corrosion problems. TestOil has a number of experts on staff that can help customers select the best product for their applications.
Look at it this way: oil formulators spend millions of dollars perfecting the performance attributes of their products. While aftermarket additives are beneficial in some applications, the best strategy is to select a quality high-performance lubricant to begin with.
For more information on working with TestOil for oil analysis programs or training opportunities visit www.testoil.com. Contact: 216-251-2510; sales@testoil.com.
